Our goal is to give you the most up-to-date, accurate information about your state DMV's processes. The date you see here reflects the most recent time we've verified this information with your state DMV. When they change something, we do, too!

Vehicle registration in Washington may be completed
in person or by mail. You will need to have your vehicle title, bill of sale, an emissions certificate and odometer statement (if applicable), and payment for your required registration fee. Depending on whether you are a new Washington resident, or you're a member of the military, your requirements and paperwork may differ.

The Washington State
Department of Licensing requires all residents to title and register their vehicles in order to get WA license plates and legally operate on the state's roads and highways. Titling your vehicle and registering are the same process in Washington, so both will be completed at the same time.

If you already have a Washington registration, you will want to go to the
WA Registration Renewal page to see how to keep your vehicle registration current. This page is dedicated registering a vehicle for the first time.

New to Washington?

New residents have
30 days to
register and title their vehicle when they move to Washington. You can send in your paperwork by mail or visit your local licensing officein person to complete the forms to get your license plates.

Registering by Mail

You can mail your registration application to any
licensing office. To register by mail, submit:

WA Car Insurance

You are not required to show your insurance card when you register the vehicle, but
auto insurance is mandatory in Washington. If you are pulled over by the police and do not have insurance, you will be fined.

Advertisement

Registering a Vehicle in WA

Depending on whether you have bought your vehicle from a dealership or a private party determines what you have to do to register and title your vehicle. You must title and register your vehicle within
15 days of taking ownership.

If you do not title and register your vehicle within
15 days, you will be charged
$50 on the 16th day and $2 every day after, with the maximum penalty totaling $125.

Buying a Vehicle from a Dealership

When you buy a vehicle from a dealership in Washington, the dealership will handle all the paperwork. You will receive all your documents and license plates in the mail.

Buying or Obtaining a Vehicle from a Private Party

If you've purchased or have been gifted a vehicle by a private individual, you may title and register it
in person or by mail. Make sure the previous owner removes the license plates and either transfers or surrenders them.

NOTE: If the vehicle has been gifted to you, you may be eligible for an exemption from the state's use tax. Please see Washington "Vehicle Registration Fees" below for details.

If you visited a licensing office, you'll get your registration and new plates before leaving, and you can expect your title to be mailed to you within
10 weeks. If you visited a Quick Title office, you can receive both your registration and title immediately for a
$50 fee.

By Mail

If you are applying by mail, all signatures on the documents above must be notarized. You can send all the documents listed above to:

Your title and vehicle registration will be mailed to you within
10 weeks. Your new plates may take up to 3 weeks to be mailed to you.

You can get an odometer disclosure statement:

At a licensing office.

By e-mailing a request to titles@dol.wa.gov.

By calling (360) 902-3770.

The odometer disclosure statement is printed on special paper, so it cannot be downloaded, faxed, or e-mailed to you.

Military Members & Vehicle Registration

Members of the Armed Services in Washington have slightly different rules depending on whether you are a resident stationed in-state, a resident stationed in another state, or a non-resident stationed in Washington.

You may also be
exempt from paying taxes on your vehicles when registering. Please see the "Vehicle Registration Fees" section below for details.

WA Military Residents

If you are a military resident of Washington
stationed in state, you will register your vehicle in the same way as any other resident.

If you are
stationed out of state, both you and your spouse can register your vehicle(s) in Washington by mail. To do so:

Out-of-State Military Returning to Washington

If you've registered your vehicle in the state that you were stationed, you can continue to use your license plates upon your return to Washington until they expire; then you must register in Washington again.

Non-Residents Stationed in Washington

If you are a resident of another state stationed in Washington, you do not need to register your vehicle in the state. You can continue to use your license plates from your home state as long as you keep the registration current and maintain valid insurance.

You may choose to register your vehicle in Washington if you wish. Simply follow the process in the "
New to Washington?" section of this page. If you are stationed in a county that requires emissions testing, you will be required to complete an emissions test in order to register your vehicle.

If you have license plates from a foreign country, they will be allowed
only until the registration on the plates expires. At that point, you must register and plate your vehicle in Washington or in your home state.

You have
30 days after leaving the military to register your vehicle in Washington if you decide to stay in the state. Follow the "
New to Washington?" section above.

Vehicle Registration Fees

Registration fees in Washington are calculated based on vehicle weight, vehicle type, license plates, and home address. Additionally, you will be responsible for paying a use tax when sales tax has not been paid.

WA State Patrol inspection for salvaged, rebuilt, or homemade vehicles: Inspection is $65. Inspection with VIN assignment may include additional fees

Use Tax

If you have not paid sales tax on your vehicle, you will be required to pay a use tax upon its registration. This is required by law when you purchase or transfer a vehicle from a private party. You must also pay use tax if you're bringing a vehicle into the state from an area that does not charge sales or use tax.

The use tax will be charged at the same rate as sales tax for your area, plus an additional
0.3% motor vehicle sales/use tax.

To
calculate sales/use tax for your vehicle, use the tax rate lookup tool on the Washington Department of Revenue website.

You do NOT have to pay the use tax if:

The vehicle was gifted to you and:

You can prove that the previous owner paid sales tax on the vehicle. OR

The previous owner had the vehicle for at least 7 years, and is from a state that charges sales tax.

You buy a vehicle while on military active duty (see below).

Military Tax Exemptions

There are a few scenarios in which military members do not have to pay use tax when registering a vehicle in Washington:

You are a non-resident stationed in Washington.

You're a WA military resident stationed out of state on active duty.

You will be in Washington for less than 90 days.

You are a military spouse who is co-owner of the vehicle in question, and your spouse meets one of the criteria above.

Non-Residents Stationed in Washington

In order to be exempt from use tax when registering your vehicle, you must provide (in addition to all registration documents listed above):

Proof that your residence is in another state or country.

Proof of ownership of the vehicle (title or Manufacturer's Certificate of Origin).

Washington residents serving in the military, as a U.S. Public Health Officer, or with the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Agency may not have to pay taxes when they register a vehicle purchased out of state. To qualify, you must:

Have been on active duty for over 6 months.

Owned the vehicle for more than 90 days before being discharged.

Have obtained the vehicle outside of Washington.

Upon registration, bring a copy of your orders proving that you have been out of state for over
6 months, along with the vehicle's proof of ownership showing that it was purchased and obtained out of state.

Replacing a Lost Vehicle Registration

If your registration has been lost or stolen, consider reporting it to the police to safeguard yourself against identity theft. You can apply for a duplicate WA registration in person or by mail.

In Person

Go to your local driver licensing office and submit a signed and notarized
Affidavit of Loss/Release of Interest (Form TD-420-040) with the "Affidavit of Loss" portion completed. You will also need to pay a duplicate registration fee which you can calculate using the fee calculator .

Bill of Sale form to complete when you buy or sell a vehicle OR vessel in Washington. The buyer will need to submit the completed Bill of Sale to the DOL when transferring the vehicle/vessel title into their name.